Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-02-16
TRUE DEMOCRACY.
A Rafting Speech by Senator Vance Be-
fore the Crescent Club.

| True DEM0CRACY,
A Rafting Speech by Senator Vance Be-
fore the Crescent Club.
| baltimore SUM-
The assembly room OF the Crescent Club
was crowded last night. Z. s. Senator
Zebulon B. Vance, of North Carolina spoke
for ever an hour on 'True Democracy" ~
He was introduced by Mr.. Wm M. Busey,
and received with tremendous applause
Senator Vance said: 81 am good deal in
| the position of the mayor of a Western
| town when the Governor visited the town
He had prepared speech, but when he
met the Governor he forgot it, and so, de-
termiuing to cast formality aside, he said,
Governor ifI amt glad to see you,-mep'
| Laughter and applause.
| sit is refreshing to come from the dig
nifty of the United States Senate and to
plunge into the purer air of democratic
club, where can speak my honest con-
vicGions. L congratulate you upon the
| formation of such an institution in the
queen city of the South. The sac ed law
of liberty contained in the principles of
democracy should be taught in such in
stitutions all over the land, and one of the
proudest distinctions could wish would be
10 be Lne ldODi OF Sucn a ScnOol.
'The democratic party is the friend of
| the whole mass of the people-rich and
poor, high aud low-not of class. If it
wasn't so, would join some other party
| 1t has the mission, now that reason has been
established, of warding off the dangers of
class legislation, all of which is forbidden
by the constitution of the United States
and by those of the States.
itOna of the prnatast dan oars iS th q a huu
of the taxing power. There was opposition
to giving that power even for the support
of government, and yet six months ago,
| when the government was in receipt of
Sl2O ,O0O, 600 revenue, Congress was called
upon to use the power to promote a class
interest in the passage of the oleomargarine
bill 1t don't matter how much you may
turn up your nose at oleomargarine-tha
was not the question; but the question was,
can the government crush out one man to
put money in the pockets of another? IF
that is SO, then our government is des-
potism more than that of Russia. We
add hypocrisy, sham and meanness to the
crime and tyranny.
''Another abuse is protective tariff. 1t
means the exercise of power, not to put
money into the treasury, but to help an
individual to make money. The power of
the government by the constitution is to
protect citizens against direct robbery in
high protective tariffs or indirect robbery
delegated to corporations. The govern
ment must protect the public against ali
class legislation and the exactions of un-
restrained corporate powers.
81 do not wish to be understood to be in
sympathy with communism and anarchy.
We cannot prevent inequalities in society,
| oh do
they come naturally. 1t is moral law
that the diligent, sober, industrious man
shall meet with the reward of reaping the
good things of the world while the drunken
and the spendthrift shall come to ruin.
But this class legislation of one kind or
another has become SO common that con-
ceive it to be the great danger before us.
"W Q have come short of our professions
We find persons who call themselves Dem
Gratis who are absolutely the tools of corpo-
rations as are brakemen on any railroad
Applause They are the advocates and
defenders of these corporations that are get
ting rich by law instead of by labor. Zap
plause. We find Democrats at the com
mand of all corporations, who prescribe
their fellow citizens, who prescribe other
laws for governing the country than are
provided by the constitution. / haven't
mentioned civil service. They cry, Purify
the pubic service l say, Purify the
Democratic party l say with James,
Let Judgment begin at the house of the
Lord. You can always fad honest old
Democrats who have no axe to be ground.
You will not always see them in the halls
of legislation. But we are demoralized by
victory. A young lady asked me yesterday
10 the street car, Senator, is there any diff
ference between the Democratic and Re-
publican parties?" | said, Madam. have
to get off the cars before get to the Capitol.
| won't have time to answer that question:
Laughter and applause
what have we done to reduce taxes?
We caA't do it. The nations of Europe are
trying to increase their taxes, and we don't
know how to stop when we have had
enough Why dc the high tariffs cou,inue2
Because the recipients of the protection
demand it. Tariff is not only an iniquity
when it is not needed, but it is most in
iquitous in the Determinations VIII ich it
makes. Salt is taxed 83 per cent; spices,
etc, free. Laughter Castor oil, the
poor mans friend in time Of need, is taxed
1s9.per cent; sachette powders, 90 per cent.
Applause.l Do you know wi ct sachette
| pow ders are, fellow citizens? Laughter.
| rhey are taxed 20 per cent, the necessities
of life. while the luxury castor oil is taxed
1S9. How can poor man afford to have
the belly-ache? Horseshoe nails, an article
of pure luxury, are taxed 103 per cent,
while fiddle strings are free. Laughter.
How can any party stand up and defend
such taxation and such discrimination
against the poor man? You can't get that
tax down because we have Democrats con-
senting to it, because you don't purge the
Democratic party, and we never will have
the streets of Jerusalem cleaned until every
man is compelled to sweep before his own
door,"